DIY I Spy Bag

By: Catherine Haley from To Be Continued

This DIY I Spy Bag from Catherine Haley is a great project to take on a road trip or a trip to grandma's house. It's easy to make and fun for kids of all ages. This is also a great way to use up those little toys and random odds and ends that you have in your junk drawer! This fun and easy game also makes a great stocking stuffer for a family member or friend.

i spy bag

Materials:

2 fabric scraps, about 8"x8"
Clear plastic scrap (needs to be thick and durable- I cut up a bag that some sheets came in, you know the heavy plastic kind with a zipper?)
Rice, beans or plastic fillers
Tiny objects to fit inside (Try the craft store, tiny dollhouse pieces, bead shops have cute things too)
Sewing stuff (machine, thread)
Scotch tape (the satin finish kind)
A camera
A computer and printer
Contact paper (or a trip to the office store to laminate)

Instructions:

Gather up your tiny items and photograph each one individually. Here is a sample of what is in this bag.
Use the individual photos to make a composite and label each item. I used the free online photo editor "fotoflexer" in collage mode to make this!
Print out the composite, and cover with contact paper or laminate. This page will be kept with the I-Spy bag. You can attach it to the bag with double sided velcro, a metal ring, etc. Whatever you prefer.
Cut out two squares, about 8"x8".
Fold one square over, about 1/3 of the way. Then cut a window out!
Cut out a plastic window slightly larger than the fabric window.
Cut out any appliques you want to use to decorate the bag. I made some eye pieces with a button for the eyeball. The stripes will top the black part.
Place a piece of the Scotch satin tape on your presser foot. This will make it slide effortlessly over the plastic. (Do this anytime you sew on plastic, laminated fabric, oilcloth, etc.)
Using an applique stitch of your choice, attach the plastic window. I set my stitches close together so I didn't need to hem the window first. Yay for saving time!
Apply your design item, in my case the Eye for I-spy!
With right sides facing, sew the two squares together leaving an opening to turn/stuff. Clip corners!
Stuff with rice (or whatever you chose to use) and the tiny items. Leave space for the top stitching!
Top stitch once on the very edge to close the hole. Then go in about 3/4" and do it again! You will need to move the rice around carefully so you don't stitch over it!